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US Finalizes Rules That Require Quiet Hyrbid and Electric Cars To Make Noise At Low Speeds (reuters.com)
In an effort to prevent injuries among pedestrians, the U.S. government has finalized rules that require quiet hybrid and electric vehicles to emit alert sounds when they are traveling at low speeds. Reuters reports: The rules, which were required by Congress, will require automakers like Tesla Motors Inc, Nissan Motor Co and Toyota Motor Corp to add the sounds to all vehicles by September 2019. The U.S. Transportation Department said it expects the rules would prevent 2,400 injuries a year by 2020 and require the addition of alert sounds to about 530,000 2020 model vehicles. The U.S. National Highway Transportation Department said the rules will cost the auto industry about $39 million annually because automakers will need to add an external waterproof speaker to comply. But the benefits of the reduced injuries are estimated at $250 million to $320 million annually. NHTSA estimates the odds of a hybrid vehicle being involved in a pedestrian crash are 19 percent higher compared with a traditional gas-powered vehicle. About 125,000 pedestrians and bicyclists are injured annually. The rules will also help the blind and visually impaired. The rules apply to hybrid and electric cars, SUVs, trucks and buses weighing up to 10,000 pounds and seek to prevent crashes at intersections or when electric vehicles are backing up. At higher speeds, the alert is not required because other factors like tire and wind noise adequately warn pedestrians, NHTSA said.
In Trumpamerica, hybrids and electric cars will be replaced by God-fearing American coal burning cars!
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
Hissing or fake engine noise.
a la: General Lee (Dukes of Hazzard)
That will make those pedestrians get out of the way.
A.I. having religion? What could possibly wrong?
Table-ized A.I.
Red Flag Laws
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
I've found it best to assume everyone else on the road is deaf. This goes double for bicycles and triple for pedestrians.
With the ubiquity of earbuds you just cannot expect that person you are coming up on to hear you. Add simulated engine noise won't change that unless we all end up with Harley noise levels. (and then we really will all be deaf)
"The U.S. National Highway Transportation Department said the rules will cost the auto industry about $39 million annually because automakers will need to add an external waterproof speaker to comply."
A $3 speaker and $1 of wiring per car will add up to $39 million? Too bad. Raise the cost of the car by $5 and stop whining.
No one puts off buying a car because it costs $32,535 instead of $32,530.
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
that electic cars be forced to emit "realistic decibel-level revving Harley" sound.
Trump says "Everyone knows that Harley riders rev their jackhammer-sounding engines not because they are assholes, but because of the safety factor it gives them on the dangerous streets."
Congress is mulling the change, noting that the current sound required by the proposed legislation is a "liberal wailing and gnashing of teeth" sound.
Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
I can't be the only person who can already hear these things because of the whine that their motors put out at low speeds. It isn't loud, but neither is a relatively modern internal combustion powered passenger car at parking lot speed.
"looking both ways" doesn't really help if you're blind.
At least Toyota already has this in their hybrid vehicles. And in Japan you have a toggle to temporarily turn it off (for when you arrive home late, for instance, and want to minimise noise). The "whine" you hear from a Prius or Aqua at low speed is actually the speaker; with it turned off they're almost completely silent.
Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
My UK bought Nissan LEAF has a noise generator that operates at low speed. It creates a high pitched wine which alerts people that the car is near. Besides that, the A/C system fans also make a fair bit of noise. If I want to go into total stealth mode I can turn off the A/C and the noise generator and then creep around car parks startling the unwary. I generally just assume people can't hear even when driving my Mini so I don't think this is going to make a massive amount of difference other than for the blind who obviously use their hearing more so I can see the sense in this. Odd that it wasn't already required in the US.
"I have the attention span of a strobe lit goldfish, please get to the point quickly!"
Two words: wire cutters
Government's idea of a balanced budget: take money from the right pocket to balance...oh who am I kidding?
You can be fairly certain that it's going to be illegal to disable this system, and that if it's not working you're going to get a fix-it ticket.
I've got the money and the points to burn. Bring it on. I'll worry about it when they start actually enforcing noise ordinances against Harley Davidson motorcycles which clearly exceed any reasonable or necessary noise level.
A bigger problem is, what happens if some pedestrian leaps out from behind a bush onto your hood and it's revealed that you've disabled the system?
That's my problem isn't it? Yes I'd be taking a legal risk. I don't really think it is a a meaningful risk or that the likelihood of it becoming a problem is significant but I acknowledge that it is a potential risk.